Liefde tot den naaste 1893

This image, *Liefde tot den naaste*, was made by Alfred Ronner, using pen and ink to create the delicate hatching that defines the scene. It is not so much a drawing as a kind of emotional architecture. The material, ink, is not so important as the way Ronner uses it. He coaxes a great range of textures from it, to describe the fabrics on the women’s dresses and the bedsheets. Ronner’s marks are suggestive rather than explicit. The composition gives us hints of an interior space, the two women focused on the labour of mending. As for its social significance, this image asks us to think about the role of women. In that era, their labor was a vital economic engine, but often went unseen and unappreciated. Ronner offers a glimpse into that world, imbuing it with a quiet dignity. He reminds us that skill and attention are present, even when we don't think to look for them.